Someone's out to get Los Angeles bookseller Adrien English. His best friend has been viciously murdered, now he's getting weird phone calls and sinister gifts from a mysterious "admirer." The cops think he's trying to divert suspicion from himself - with the exception of sexy and homophobic homicide detective Jake Riordan. Is Riordan really such a great detective - or does he have a few secrets of his own? Is his offer to help Adrien on the level or is he out to nail his favorite suspect - to the wall?

Your Likes make Audible better!

Publisher's Summary

Someone's out to get Los Angeles bookseller Adrien English. His best friend has been viciously murdered, now he's getting weird phone calls and sinister gifts from a mysterious "admirer." The cops think he's trying to divert suspicion from himself - with the exception of sexy and homophobic homicide detective Jake Riordan. Is Riordan really such a great detective - or does he have a few secrets of his own? Is his offer to help Adrien on the level or is he out to nail his favorite suspect - to the wall?

Just finished this book and though I figured out who the culprit was half way through, I enjoyed the journey to revelation. The dialogue between Adrien (with an e) and Jake at the end, makes me want to get the next part of this series. The tale provided by Josh Lanyon was a good read and Chris Patton's narration added to the story. A great book...

Would you consider the audio edition of Fatal Shadows to be better than the print version?

No, the are equally good each in their own way. What's remarkable is that Lanyon's skillful writing translates so well into the audio medium. He puts precise, witty dialogue on the page that gives each character a distinctive personality and voice. All that comes across vividly in Chris Patton's skillful vocal enactment.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well, Adrien, of course; an sympathetic, quirky character who is, as another character says, "something of a wise-ass."After Adrien, the most complex character may well be Riordan, the enigmatic, macho homicide detective.But Adrien's faux-French black restaurateur pal Claude is right up there.And let's not forget Adrien's overly-doting socialite mother, Lisa.

Which scene was your favorite?

I suppose the very last one, where Riordan says,"This won't be easy, Adrien," causing Adrien to smile. Makes you impatient for a sequel.But the scenes where Adrien tries to communicate with Angus, the Goth temp store clerk, are hilarious.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The most appropriate would be the two lines from the Elizabethan dramatist that give the story it's title:

"Our acts, our angels are, for good or illOur fatal shadows that walk by us still."

But for today's audiences you'd have to dumb it down to something like:

"SHADOWS FROM THE PAST CAN KILL!"

Any additional comments?

If you like a an exciting, romantic mystery, written in a literate and witty style, this is the story for you.

This is my first listen from this author, and one of my first listens in the mystery genre. I have to say Josh Lanyon has me hooked! The storyline was captivating, but did not quite keep me on the edge of my seat. The characters were very likeable and realistic, and even though I was able to guess the culprit by the middle of the book, his motivation was not revealed until much later.

Overall, it is an excellent listen. Chris Patton is an above average narrator, neither distracting or annoying, and really added something special to the whole experience.

One huge advantage (in my opinion) to other gay novels I have listened to is that the sex scenes in Fatal Shadows are more tasteful and less graphic. They are still there, and they are still hot, but they are fairly short, so they don't distract the reader from the storyline.

Yep! The story was quite compelling and the narrator did an excellent job.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Oh yeah. It was a slow build on mystery, yet things kept happening in story to keep the interest going. This audio actually sets a pace that slows you down to get the full impact of the storyline..No rushing through like you do a book, especially when it starts to get suspenseful. Things you might miss while reading are picked up while listening to an audio version.

What does Chris Patton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Good voice characterizations. Not a drone!Actually brought the characters and story to life.

Where does Fatal Shadows rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It RANKS but not at the top -- my opinion only …although in all honestly I’m partial to some of my favorites – Holter Graham _ Acheron and Born of Silence & Kristen Potter _Live to Tell and Pleasure:Shawdowdwellers series BUT not taking anything from Chris…the potential is there with this series.

"Well Done" Chris Patton -- not everyone can take an audio reader to that special place – exquisite listening pleasure.

Any additional comments?

I will be the first to admit, I wasn’t sure what I would be getting from this m/m audible selection but let me say “pleasantly surprised “ doesn’t even touch it. Adrien with an “e” is a refreshing character uniqueness of someone who is genuinely comfortable in his own skin.

As the prime suspect in the murder case of his friend, Adrien so try’s to do the right thing; be there for his friends, be respectful to the law...BUT he soon realizes survival for the fittest works best AND Adrien with an “e” is in it to survive. He doesn’t always make the best choices but when you are desperate for the truth – and you know the truth that will set you free…sometimes common sense doesn’t make sense. His multiple runs in with Detective Riordan gives the reader the insight that perhaps there is more to the Detectives story as well.

Surprising character in this book was his mother whom he refers to a “Lisa”. Since I’m a mom with grown children, I get when your children, would love for you to put a filter on your comments. The sprinkling of Lisa and Adrien’s exchanges were delightfully funny.

I was so excited when I realized this was a series and so disappointed that book 2 wasn’t on Audible. However, since I was already addicted -- I moved on to traditional reading and purchased the entire series. If you like Lanyon’s style – this series is a MUST READ and well worth it. Lanyon is truly a gifted writer...looking forward to so much more.

What made the experience of listening to Fatal Shadows the most enjoyable?

Chris Patton's performance of the characters was a treat. I heard from others that they liked his performance, and now having heard him myself - I can say that Josh really picked someone who interpreted the characters of Adrien and Jake superbly.

What did you like best about this story?

Josh Lanyon writes like no other m/m writer. Yes, I am a fan, but the reason I become one is because of the polish and thoughtful construction he puts into his stories. Almost everyone who has read Adrien English falls in love with Adrien with an 'e" and Jake. Josh writes with humor and flawed characters that endear themselves to the reader.

Have you listened to any of Chris Patton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I can't wait to hear more of his performances.

If you could take any character from Fatal Shadows out to dinner, who would it be and why?

That's tough because you fall in love with both main characters, but I think I would love to go out to dinner with Claude (a secondary character) just for the sheer entertainment of hearing him dish the dirt in a faux French accent.

Any additional comments?

If you are a Josh Lanyon fan then why not treat yourself and add to your collection. It's a great for a commute.

Excellent writing, and wonderful detective story! It keeps you guessing who is the real killer till (almost) the last moment. The main charater (Adrien) is very likable and the supporting cast is revealed as more than one dimensional. I was slightly thrown when the story ended before any action between Adrian and his love interest (I won't spoil it!), only to discover that there is a second book.I can't wait to get it now! Laynon shows that he is up there with the other great crime authors. The fact that he also adds in steamy m/m romance is a big, big bonus. I will definately be searching out other books by him. Patton also gives a great performance.

Would you consider the audio edition of Fatal Shadows to be better than the print version?

After reading the entire Adrien English series I was looking for a way to introduce Josh Lanyon's work to a dear friend of mine who didn't have the opportunity to read the books. But I knew he liked audiobooks. So I was excited to find "Fatal Shadows" listed at audible.com. After listening to it myself first, I can say in all honesty that the tone of the story is successfully translated into sound thanks to Chris Patton's sensitive use of his fabulous voice.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

From the very start the listener gets a mental image of the characters involved and is drawn into the plot as Adrien's story unfolds. There is murder, suspense, old friends and handsome strangers, and the question of whom to trust.

If you could rename Fatal Shadows, what would you call it?

Although I'd never dare to question Josh Lanyon's excellent choice of title, if asked what alternative I would have chosen instead of "Fatal Shadows" it would be something along the line of "A Wounded Heart" or "Perpetual Check".

Any additional comments?

Hopefully Chris Patton is going to record the other four books of the Adrien English mysteries as well. I'm looking forward to their release in the near future.

This is my first Adrien English story by Josh Lanyon and i loved it. Chris Patton's narration was superb, his tone dry and witty, he is just perfect. I can't wait to listen to them all.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Alexander Sutherland

UK

9/25/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Really entertaining!"

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is the first gay murder mystory I've ever had the fotune to listen to- I must admit I found it riviting stuff especially in the capable voice of C Patton who lent a real sense of suspense and drama to the story. It may not be highly original or entirly convincing (*spoiler alert* - the protagonist being a rather unhealthly weak-hearted liberal winning the attraction of the cop at the end of the story seemingly out of the blue, nor the rather incongruous actions of the antagonist of the story), but it was very entertaining and the camp humour and drama was played out very well!

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Report Inappropriate Content

If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.

Your report has been received. It will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.

Can't wait to hear more from this listener?

You can now follow your favorite reviewers on Audible.

When you follow another listener, we'll highlight the books they review, and even email* you a copy of any new reviews they write. You can un-follow a listener at any time to stop receiving their updates.

* If you already opted out of emails from Audible you will still get review emails by the listeners you follow.